VCA Consulting Director, Acquiring Advisory

Visa; Dubai; On-site; AED 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Visa invites a Consulting Director to lead the Acquiring Advisory practice across CEMEA, shaping strategy and delivering AI-enabled advisory to grow client value. You will work with Visa’s global consulting network and Value-Added Services to embed solutions and create scalable offerings across the region.

You will mentor teams, manage complex engagements, and drive excellence in research, benchmarking, and client outcomes, ensuring Visa remains a top advisor in acquiring.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent required; Master's preferred.
• Deep expertise in payments acquiring and merchant solutions.
• Experience with consulting for banks/acquirers, processors, or card schemes.
• Strong facilitation, training delivery, and client engagement skills.
• High-end analytical, PowerPoint and Excel skills; credible with senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive Acquiring Advisory growth across CEMEA as senior SME.
• Review, expand and growth opportunities for acquirers, processors and PayFacs.
• Lead consulting engagements and deliver strategic solutions for client targets.
• Mentor colleagues and codify best practices into reusable assets.
• Push AI adoption across the practice and integrate AI tools into research and deliverables.

Skills

AI fluency

PowerPoint skills

Excel skills

Project management

Client engagement

Leadership

Teamwork

Communication

Financial acumen

Willingness to travel

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

AI tools

Job description

Job Description

Role Summary The Visa Consulting Director will be responsible for the growth of the Acquiring Advisory practice across CEMEA This includes the overall strategy and successful delivery of offerings within this practice under the EMF umbrella ensuring that it continues to grow across the region This will require a depth of expertise in the Acquiring business a solid understanding of the implications of the changing environment for payment service providers and the ability to design modules and set plays that will increase Visa s reputation as the leading advisor in this field The Director will work in close cooperation with Visa s global consulting practices and with Value-Added Services notably Visa Acceptance Solutions and will lead a growing portfolio of Acquiring trainings bringing a strong management consulting background and setting the standard for AI-enabled advisory delivery across the practice Success will be measured on Visa s ability to provide proof points of growth in clients businesses and being able to evidence the fact that we have supported our clients to define and implement strategies that will prepare them for future success

Principal Responsibilities

Own and drive the Acquiring Advisory practice forward as its senior subject matter expert Use this in-depth expertise to review expand and grow the areas where Visa can support acquirers processors and PayFacs to optimize and expand their business in a balanced manner that delivers clear results Use Visa and external data to analyze client needs across the region s markets to identify opportunities for Acquiring Advisory consulting assignments with Visa s clients In coordination with regional VCA teams Country Managers Products and Account Executives ensure we operate as One Visa Work in close partnership with Value-Added Services VAS and in particular Visa Acceptance Solutions to shape joint propositions embed acceptance solutions in consulting recommendations and generate pipeline for VAS products Support the development of Acquiring Advisory project pitches and secure new consulting assignments with clients as well as relevant re-engagement opportunities via a consultative sales approach in assigned markets under the guidance of the Hub lead and regional consulting leads Deliver consulting projects Resolve complex strategic problems Synthesize and manage complex project structures when required Manage facilitate and implement consulting services and meet the client s business targets assignment objectives project scope budget paperwork external consultants supervision and project delivery Ensure a seamless consulting experience for the client including all required areas departments Work on client site and or virtually to design and project manage the implementation of recommendations as required Ability and desire to mentor colleagues at all levels of the organization who are working to develop Acquiring expertise Design update and deliver the portfolio of Acquiring trainings for clients and internal Visa audiences from executive briefings to in-depth technical and commercial programs as an increasingly important part of the practice Champion the use of AI across the Acquiring Advisory practice embed AI tools into research analysis benchmarking and deliverable production and ensure the team s AI fluency keeps pace with the fastest-moving tools available to consultants Work closely with the global Acquiring practice and other global practices share experience and project learnings in both directions contribute to the set-up of standardized offerings and leverage new global consulting solutions that will grow the practice Take ownership of codifying best practices into reusable assets and of the ongoing build and maintenance of leading practices new trends business models and case studies to ensure that relevant information is always accessible and up to date

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree or equivalent. Master's degree preferred.At least 10 years of overall experience, of which more than 5 years as a consultant in a top-tier management consulting firm with strong expertise in Banking and specifically in Acquiring this consulting background is a core requirement of the role.Deep, first-hand expertise across all aspects of a payments acquiring business, including merchant solutions, processing, value proposition design, product development and launch.Experience gained within payment acquirers, processors, payment facilitators or card schemes is a strong plus. A combination of regional and global experience strongly desired.Strong facilitation and training delivery skills.Advanced consulting, client engagement, client contact and presentation skills. Credibility with clients and working teams and diplomatic skills to extract desired outcomes. Comfortable interacting with and presenting to senior management of clients and Visa.Full AI fluency and a genuine passion for AI: deep knowledge of GenAI and agentic AI concepts, capabilities and limitations, daily hands‑on use of the leading AI tools, and the credibility to set and raise the AI standard for the team's research, analysis and deliverable production.Highly analytical with advanced PowerPoint and Excel skills.Superior project management skills. Fluent communicator.Must have financial acumen and commercial awareness skills.Results-driven, flexible and both internally and externally customer focused.Able to travel frequently and work on client site and in a multicultural environment across CEMEA.Self-motivated and able to use own initiative with limited direction.Strong teamwork and collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively with interdisciplinary groups.Russian language is plus.